Small plane crash-lands west of city

A pilot from Leavenworth became disoriented and ill Sunday before crash-landing his plane into a field west of Lansing, the Kansas Highway Patrol reported. Three people were injured.

The Highway Patrol identified the pilot as Terry J. Cox, 66, Leavenworth. Two Lansing residents also were onboard the Cessna, Dewayne Decker, 47, and Marie Decker, 44, both of Lansing.

All three were taken by ambulance to St. John's Hospital in Leavenworth. The Deckers were treated and released and were resting Monday at their home, said a person who answered the phone at their home. Cox was transferred to the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan.

Leavenworth County Fire District No. 1 Chief Rick Huhn said the incident occurred about 2:05 p.m. Sunday in a field near 24700 159th St., near 159th and Gilman Road. He said it appeared as if Cox was trying to get to a private landing strip about a half-mile from where the plane was brought down

"The pilot was having some kind of physical problems," Huhn said.

Neighbors around the crash site said officials from the Federal Aviation Administration were at the crash site Monday.